Religious groups prayed for peace and called for dialogue in Ukraine amid this week’s deadly confrontations between police and anti-government protestors. Many Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox leaders have been supporting the protests, which began in November, to push for constitutional reforms. This week Kiev churches held prayer services and funerals for those killed in the violence. Many of the churches, including the historic St. Michael’s Golden Dome Cathedral, were turned into make-shift hospitals. In a meeting with top Ukrainian religious leaders before the violence exploded, President Viktor Yanukovich had promised to amend harsh new anti-protest laws that were enacted to stop demonstrations.